predictions 2011

When tech writer Alex Salkever issued his five tech predictions for 2010 last year, he boldly proclaimed that India's nascent tech sector would see its first blockbuster startup emerge. That blockbuster turns out to be MakeMyTrip.com, and it's likely to be followed by many more in 2011.

U.S. companies added $26.5 billion to dividend payments in 2010 -- a far cry from 2009's $42.4 billion decline -- and analysts predict an even better year for dividends in 2011, a windfall to investors that could lift equity markets higher.

A year ago, hardly anyone was expecting Angry Birds or Groupon to be among the stars of 2010, but the underlying trends that powered their success were plain enough. So while it's nearly impossible to accurately predict what the next big hits will be, here are five trends that may help separate 2011's winners from its losers.

It's the season for reviewing the year that's ending and making predictions for the one ahead. On Tuesday, venture capitalist and DailyFinance columnist Peter Cohan was part of a TV panel that was asked: Who was the person of the year? What was the story of the year? And what will happen in 2011? Here are his answers.